Clarification of Matthew 7

 ‎"I never knew you" = I never knew you intimately. He isn't saying that they weren't saved or that they are going to hell in Matthew 7. These believers were carnal and didn't enter the Kingdom of Heaven, which isn't heaven.

To understand what I mean it is important to look at the passage you quoted to me.

Matthew 7:21-23
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

From other scripture we know that it is impossible for an unbeliever to recognize Jesus as "Lord".

1 Corinthians 12:3
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

So, from the context of the verses before and after, as well as the testimony of the passage itself, these people that Jesus refers to must be saved people.

Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is not the same as going to heaven when we die or at the rapture. All believers will go to heaven, but only a few will be afforded a place of rulership with Christ in His kingdom reign of 1000 years, from the heavens over the earth, after the tribulation period.  Entrance into the kingdom is the placement as a ruler, and it is conditioned upon service to the King.

According to scripture, to enter the kingdom you must:

1.)  have child-like trust in what the King says, and obey.
(Matthew 18:3,Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17 )

2.) be righteous, through righteous action (obedience).
(Matthew 5:16-20, Mark 9:47, John 3:5)

3.) suffer for Christ's sake.
(Acts 14:22)

The parables of Christ also teach us about entrance into the kingdom through obedience and righteous service to the King. They also teach us about what happens to those Christians who do not serve.

Matthew 21:28-32

"But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen [it], repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."

Notice that they were both sons. They were a part of the family. They had both been born into the family. One served and the other did not. Every believer is a child of God, but not all of us serve. This parable was addressed to the Pharisees, but the principle is the same. Look at this passage.

Matthew 22:1-14

"And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them].  But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen."

Outer darkness is not hell. (See my post on Outer Darkness) The first part of this passage deals with the Jewish people. The second part shows the transition to the Gentiles and Jews that become Christians. At the wedding feast, a Christian comes in unprepared. He had not done works of righteousness. So the result is discipline and exclusion from the wedding feast.

Remember though, a Christian can't be cast into hell through their actions. They can not lose their salvation. They lose their reward.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

This trial by fire occurs at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:6-11

"Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences."


I hope that clarifies my position on Matthew 7. Feel free to post any questions or comments that you might have.